Chapter 22
Tristan was finally out of critical condition. He was soon transferred to a regular ward.
But Melanie couldn’t bring herself to relax at all. She stayed by his bed at all times, showing no intention to leave. Her eyes were bloodshot from sleepless nights, and her face was terribly pale. Yet, she refused to leave Tristan’s side.
Albert couldn’t bear to watch Melanie torture herself anymore. He strode into Tristan’s ward and advised her, “Melanie, you should get some rest. There are nurses here taking care of Tristan. He’ll be fine.”
Melanie just shook her head in response. She replied tiredly, “It’s fine. I want to stay here until he wakes up.”
Albert felt as though his heart was just pierced by an invisible needle. He couldn’t help asking, “III were the one protecting you that day, would you do the same to me?”
Melanie raised her head to look into Albert’s eyes. “Yes, but that has nothing to do with love. Since I didn’t fall in love with you during our five–year marriage, it’s even more impossible for me to do so in the future. Leon is the only man I’ll ever love.”
Albert felt his heart getting crashed by an Invisible weight. It hurt so much that he could barely breathe.
He asked softly, “What about Tristan, then?”
Melanie was silent for a moment. Finally, she replied quietly, “I don’t know, but I want to spend the rest of my life with him. You and I spent five amicable years together in our marriage. I never asked anything from you either
“But please, I’m begging you for the first time ever. Please give up on me. I enjoyed my new life after our divorce. I want to be with Tristan.”
Albert just chuckled bitterly at her answer. Sorrow was palpable in his voice. “I understand now. I regret everything I’ve done. I was such a fool not to cherish those five years with you.
After that, he tramed on his heel and left the ward. His silhouette looked utterly desolate and lonely.
Three days later, Tristan finally regained consciousness. The first thing he saw after opening his eyes was Melante, who was slumped over his bed, fast asleep. There were still fresh tear tracks on her face. Clearly, she’d been crying earlier..
Tristan gently moved his hand, which was enough to jolt Melanie awake. She raised her head to see him gazing at her tenderly. Tears were quick to blur her vision.
“You’re finally awake…” she rasped out in a choked–up tone.
Tristan raised his hand to wipe Melanie’s tears away for her gently. He said softly, “My face is fine, isn’t it? Don’t worry.”
But Melanie shook her head. Her voice still held a quivering edge. “You know i wasn’t talking about that. Why did you risk your life to protect me?”
A pregnant pause later, she decided to make an educated guess. “Have we met each other before?”
Mixed emotions flitted across Tristan’s eyes at that moment. He nodded before saying softly, “You finally remembered our past, Mel.”
A morent’s silence later, le started telling the tale of how they met.
“Back then, I was just a junior high schooler who came from a poor family. When you visited my town, you picked me out of everyone else right away, claiming that you wanted to sponsor my education. You looked so pretty, like an angel. When I first laid my eyes on you, I fell in love with you.”
Melaitie was stunned, to say the least. Soon, shock took over her features
you_
that kid?”
Tristan nodded in response. Frrah, You even wrote letters to me as a form of encouragement. I wadhe happiest whenever I received letters from you. I kept thinking to myself every day that I needed to track you down and confess my feelings for you once I grew up.”
His deep voice remained soll and gentle as he immersed himself in the wonderful memories.
“But after that, your boyfriend passed away. Your butler took over the tasks related to my sponsorship. Since then, you pever visited my town anymore. Not to Itention, you forgot all about ise.”
Tears kept streaming down Melaide’s fas in a trembling voice, she cried out, “So you… you were the student… I didn’t even recognize you at all…”
Tristan merely smiled geatly in retum. “It’s fine, Mel. I fell in love with you when I was still a young boy That’s why I’d like to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you say yes to me? I don’t mind even if you will never forget about Leon your whole lite.”
